If the Redskins game had been in regular season

[Mista T]

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/lightning.jpg

Although the media is counting the FedEx storm as a loss, the Ravens web-site looks like there is no concession:


The score at the end of Saturday night’s preseason game at Washington’s FedEx Field might look like a 13-7 Ravens loss to the Redskins, but it could also be classified as a no-decision.

A severe thunderstorm in Landover, Md. delayed the scheduled 8:00 p.m. start of the contest for one hour, as drenching rain and bright lightning prompted NFL officials to suspend the action mid-way through the third quarter.

....At 11:58 p.m., the word came down from Commissioner Roger Goodell that the game would be cancelled with the safety of the players and fans in mind.

I am just assuming that this game "counts" in the "all-important" exhibition season record books as a loss.

I could not envision the mockery of a football game being terminated in the 3rd Q and then declared an official game ever happening in the regular season.

I would think that play would be suspended, (not terminated) then completed at a later date (logically the next day).

Does anyone know the rule?

[flraven]

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/lightning.jpg

Although the media is counting the FedEx storm as a loss, the Ravens web-site looks like there is no concession:



I am just assuming that this game "counts" in the "all-important" exhibition season record books as a loss.

I could not envision the mockery of a football game being terminated in the 3rd Q and then declared an official game ever happening in the regular season.

I would think that play would be suspended, (not terminated) then completed at a later date (logically the next day).

Does anyone know the rule?

There is an article in today's Sun that says the league has never postponed a regular season game due to weather. They've moved games around and stuff, but not postponed.

Here is the link to the article: Link (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.ravensside27aug27,0,4096940.story)

[Losac]

It's very interesting this has never come up before. Thunderstorms are still pretty common in September and you'd think at least one game would have been affected over the years.

[ravensfan1996]

I wondered this as well, i dont think they would ever have a makeup date of a game that was already started. It wouldnt make sense to fly the opposing team back to play 1 qtr, try and sell the tickets again, have the stadium available and it would delay the playoffs one week to play this meaningless 1qtr.

I think this has never been an issue (excpet sept 11th of course where all games were made up at the end of the year).

Also most games are played during the day, 1pm, and because of that have many hours for storms to pass. A night game like the redskins game of course would then play into the whole late night thing but thats probably what they would do. wait it out. Or if they didnt see any "window" cancel before it starts and make up next day when all teams are still in town.

[jefe96]

I think they had to postpone, or re-schedule, an early season game a couple of years ago between the Dolphins and Titans?? If I remember correctly a hurricane was scheduled to hit the S. Fla area on Sunday so they moved it to Friday night or something like that.

Of course that was before the game was ever played, not sure what they do during a game. Heard one of the announcers state that the NFL doesn't have any hard and fast rule about 'storm delays' or stopping play for thunderstorms.

[CrowMST3k]

I remember the one game that was Dolphins (or maybe Bucs) vs Steelers. The highlight clips were abysmal. You could barely see the players, it was played in the beginning stages of a hurricane. This was like 2 seasons ago.

[Denver John]

Pretty funny hearing Broncos fans give me grief today about "both our teams lost" on Saturday. They lost to the Browns at home, and the Ravens were behind in the 3rd quarter. Give me the damn season already!

[OregonRaven]

I think they had to postpone, or re-schedule, an early season game a couple of years ago between the Dolphins and Titans?? If I remember correctly a hurricane was scheduled to hit the S. Fla area on Sunday so they moved it to Friday night or something like that.

Of course that was before the game was ever played, not sure what they do during a game. Heard one of the announcers state that the NFL doesn't have any hard and fast rule about 'storm delays' or stopping play for thunderstorms.

I know that years ago when Hurricane Andrew hit Miami they postponed a game that was originally scheduled for a couple days after the hurricane passed, but they decided to give the city more time to clean up. I forget who they played, but luckily both teams had the same bye week later in the season so they just moved the game back to when the bye week would have been.

Several years ago the NFL moved a Chargers game to Sun Devil Stadium in Arizona becuase there were huge wildfires in the S.D. area and the Chargers stadium was being used as a staging area for firefighters.

In 1989 the 49ers had to move a game to Stanford after the big earthquake that hit the Bay Area. Again, the concern was to allow the area to recover from the disaster, but I recall there was also concern about possible structural damage to Candlestick Park and they wanted time to thoroughly inspect it too.

But all of those were events that the league had at least a couple days to work out alternative arrangements. Not sure what would happen if a sudden weather situation forced an immediate postponement or cancellation of a game, but I'm sure the league and teams involved would do everything in their power to make it up at some point. Also, I'm sure the NFLPA would have some input into it as well.